Fires force closure of Highway 70 Tuesday

Several fires forced the closure of Highway 70 from Pentz Road to Clark Road Tuesday afternoon.

The fires sparked up at about 1:45 p.m. on the east side of the highway, burning thick vegetation and open fields. Coordinating the attack was Cal Fire Division Chief Rob Cone who said crews were battling up to 11 fires along the highway.

"We had a fire reported on Highway 70 and Nelson Road," Cone said. "We continued to have fires reported along Highway 70 all the way to Pentz Road."

The fires ranged in size from a small spot fire to five- to 10-acre blazes.

By about 3 p.m. crews were still working on four of the fires. The others had been contained. Personnel included a helicopter, an air tanker, a spotter plane and several engines including inmate ground crews.

By mid-afternoon, the scene was more smoke than fire. Charred earth smoldered as firefighters trudged through fields and steep hills covered with burned vegetation. Small flames on the side of the road crackled as they died out while searching for a fresh, unburned surface.

Aircraft roared above as crews talked to each other on their radios. Cone said they still need to investigate the fires, but they may be due to a vehicle.

"We're not sure yet, but it may be a vehicle dragging a chain or a vehicle malfunctioning, such as an exhaust problem or something else," he said.